The day after the discovery of the erased archives, the Imperial Academy of Asteria seemed to have returned to its usual calm. At least, on the surface. Classes had resumed, students moved between buildings, and professors continued their lessons as though nothing unusual had happened the previous day. Yet, ever since Kael, Noah, and Lysandra had found that old document concerning Lorn Forest, something had changed. They were no longer dealing with a simple strange symbol. They now knew that the symbol was connected to ancient research, important enough to have required authorization from the Imperial Council. And, most importantly, that research had been deliberately erased. Kael sat at the back of the classroom, an open book resting in front of him. His eyes moved across the lines, but he wasn't really reading them. The sentence they had discovered in the archives kept returning to his mind. Restricted research zone. All investigation must be authorized by the Imperial Council. Research had been conducted in Lorn Forest long before his parents had even been born. Why? And what had they discovered? — You've been reading the same page for five minutes. Kael looked up. Noah was leaning over his desk, his chin resting in his hand. — No. — Yes. — I'm thinking. — Which means you're not reading. Kael slowly closed his book. — You're particularly observant today. — I'm always observant. You're just starting to annoy me. Lysandra, sitting on the other side of him, raised her eyes from her notes. — Are you two finished? — No, Noah answered. — What a shame. Before they could continue, the classroom door opened. A professor stepped inside. — Put your things away. Class is cancelled. A murmur immediately spread through the room. — Why? — Another meeting? — Did something happen? The professor placed several sheets of paper on his desk. — The annual ball for students from the great noble families will take place tonight. The preparations are beginning now. Several important families have already arrived at the academy, and the main halls need to be prepared. Noah immediately raised his head. — A ball? Lysandra sighed. — I knew this was coming. — Why do you say that like it's a disaster? — Because it probably will be. Noah looked at Kael. — Are you going? — I wasn't planning on leaving. — That's not what I meant. Kael slightly raised an eyebrow. — Then? — Are you actually going to participate? — Is it mandatory? The professor answered from his desk. — The attendance of heirs from the great houses is strongly encouraged. Noah smiled. — There's your answer. Kael said nothing. He simply looked through the window. In the courtyard, several servants were already putting up decorations. Carriages were arriving in front of the academy's grand staircase, carrying noble families who had come for the evening. Among them, some houses had political ties to House Veyron. Some may even have known his parents. That thought was enough to draw Kael's attention back to the evening ahead. A ball wasn't necessarily just a social event. It was also a place where families talked. Where alliances were formed. And sometimes, secrets surfaced. --- A few hours later, Asteria had completely changed. The enormous doors of the main hall stood open, revealing a circular room decorated with long imperial banners. Chandeliers illuminated the pale stone walls, while numerous tables had been arranged around the edges of the room. The center had been cleared for dancing. Students gradually began arriving, dressed in their finest clothes. Kael descended the stairs with Noah. He wore a simple yet elegant black outfit, perfectly fitted, with silver details that subtly reflected the colors of House Veyron. His black hair was slightly more orderly than usual, though a few strands still fell across his face. Noah looked at him for a few seconds. — You know what? — What? — Nothing. — Then why are you looking at me? — I was just wondering how many people are going to come talk to you tonight. Kael turned his head slightly toward him. — Probably none. — You underestimate your terrifying power. — I prefer it that way. They reached the hall. Lysandra joined them a few minutes later. She wore an elegant midnight-blue dress, with silver details that subtly reflected the colors of House Arven. Her long, dark-blue hair was partially tied back, leaving a few strands framing her face. Noah looked at her, then at Kael. Kael simply nodded toward her. — Good evening. — Good evening. Lysandra looked around. — I think I already regret coming. — See? Noah said. I told you. — You didn't say anything. — I thought it very loudly. She laughed quietly. Together, they entered the hall. For Kael, the atmosphere was strange. There were far more nobles here than during an ordinary day at Asteria. Adults were talking near the tables, students were gathering in small groups, and several families were exchanging greetings. Kael naturally observed the faces around him. Not out of suspicion. Habit. He knew the crests of many important houses from the years he had spent studying the politics of his territory. House Arven. House Valerian. House Rovenhart. And several others. Then his gaze stopped. An old man had just entered the hall. He appeared to be over sixty. His white hair was carefully combed, and he wore a brooch bearing the crest of an old noble house that had become far less influential over the decades. Kael didn't know his name. But the man clearly knew his. Their eyes met. The old man froze. For a second. Then another. Something changed in his expression. Not fear. Recognition. Kael slightly narrowed his eyes. The old man eventually looked away and continued walking. — Did you see that? Noah was speaking quietly. — Yes. Lysandra looked in the same direction. — Do you know him? — No. — But he knows you. Kael didn't answer immediately. His gaze remained fixed on the old man. Then something caught his attention. The man's brooch. A symbol. An incomplete circle. Three vertical lines. And a shape resembling an eye. The symbol. Kael's pupils seemed to contract. The dark red of his irises became slightly more intense. — Kael? Lysandra's voice brought him back. He blinked. The red glow had already disappeared. — I'm going to talk to him. Noah nodded. But before they could move, a voice came from behind them. — Veyron. Kael turned around. Adrian Rovenhart stood several steps away, dressed in a black and red outfit bearing his family's colors. — You again, Noah muttered. Adrian ignored him. His eyes were fixed on Kael. — I didn't expect to see you here. — Yet here I am. Adrian sighed. — Still as pleasant as ever. — You'll get used to it. Noah stifled a laugh. Lysandra shook her head slightly. Adrian then looked at the other two. — Are you always together? — Unfortunately, Noah answered. — He's speaking for himself, Lysandra added. Adrian gave a small smile. — Enjoy the evening. Tomorrow, I'll ask for another duel. Kael looked at him calmly. — All right. Adrian seemed almost surprised by the simple answer. — That's it? — What did you want me to say? — Nothing. Adrian walked away. Noah watched him go. — He's becoming almost tolerable. — Don't exaggerate, Lysandra replied. Kael had already turned his attention back toward the old man. But he was gone. --- They searched for several minutes. They couldn't find him. Kael scanned the room. The guests continued talking, the musicians had begun playing, and the first students were already gathering in the center. Yet something bothered him. The symbol. It shouldn't have been here. Not after everything they had just discovered. — Kael. Lysandra was standing beside one of the tables. — What? She showed him a small brochure lying among several documents intended for the guests. — Look. Kael approached. It was the official program for the evening. He quickly scanned through it. Imperial guests. Noble houses in attendance. Dance schedule. Speeches. Then his gaze stopped on a list of the people responsible for overseeing the event. Edric Vaelmont. The same name as the old man with the brooch. Kael picked up the brochure. Noah leaned over his shoulder. — Do you know that family? — No. Lysandra studied the list. — House Vaelmont. An old noble family specialized in magical research. Kael looked up. — Magical research? — Yes. They lost much of their influence several decades ago. Noah thought for a moment. — Wait. He closed his eyes briefly. Then his expression changed. — I know that name. Kael turned toward him. — Where? — In a document I saw in the archives earlier. — What did it say? Noah opened his eyes. — I don't remember everything. But there was a reference to an old research commission. — Researching what? Noah looked at Kael. — Lorn Forest. The noise of the hall seemed to disappear. Kael didn't move. His fingers slowly tightened around the brochure. His red eyes changed once again. This time, it wasn't simply an intensification. A faint scarlet glow appeared behind his irises. Lysandra noticed immediately. — Kael... He raised his eyes toward her. — Continue. Noah swallowed. — The document said that several families had participated in the earliest research into magical anomalies in Lorn. The Vaelmonts were among them. Kael looked at the brochure. Then at the symbol on the brooch he had seen. Then back at Noah. — My parents were investigating Lorn. — Yes. — And the Vaelmonts conducted research there. — Yes. Kael remained silent for several seconds. Then he murmured: — Then why was this family removed from the main archives? Neither of them answered. --- At the other end of the hall, Edric Vaelmont was watching Kael. A young man approached him. — You know him? The old man didn't answer immediately. His gaze remained fixed on the young heir's red eyes. — I knew his father. — And? Edric tightened his grip slightly around his cane. — He had the exact same look when he started understanding something. The young man frowned. — Do you think he found the archives? Edric slowly turned toward him. — No. A pause. — I think he's beginning to uncover what we managed to bury. The young man's face paled slightly. — We need to warn— — Not here. Edric looked around the room. Then he added quietly: — Someone is already watching us. --- Kael eventually left the main hall with Noah and Lysandra. They stopped in an empty corridor. The music from the ball still reached them through the large doors. Noah pulled a folded sheet of paper from his pocket. — I took this before we left the archives. Kael unfolded it. Several old lines were written across the page. Most of the text had been erased. But one sentence was still readable. “Any manifestation linked to the Heir of the Void must be reported to the Imperial Council.” Kael froze. His eyes became a brighter red. Lysandra stared at him. — The Heir of the Void... Noah whispered: — Kael... He raised his eyes. This time, he didn't try to hide what he was feeling. Surprise was clearly visible on his face. For the first time since they had begun their investigation, they had found something concrete. A name. A connection. A piece of the truth. But an even more troubling question had just appeared. Why did the Imperial Council need to be informed every time this inheritance manifested? And why was the same symbol found in Lorn Forest connected to this power? Kael slowly folded the document. — We're going back to the archives tomorrow. Noah nodded. — Obviously. Lysandra nodded as well. — I'm coming too. Kael looked at both of them, then slipped the document into his jacket. — Then, see you tomorrow. They headed back toward the ballroom. None of the three noticed the figure disappearing at the end of the corridor. A gloved hand quietly closed a door. And behind that door, carved into an old stone wall, was the same symbol that had been engraved there years before. An incomplete circle. Three lines. An eye. And just beneath it, almost erased by time, a sentence: “When the heir opens his eyes, those who survived will have to choose their side.”

The Nobles’ Ball